Brigadier General James Conner, CSA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Conner_(general)

James Conner (September 1, 1829 – June 26, 1883), was a Confederate States Army brigadier general during the American Civil War (Civil War). He was a lawyer in South Carolina both before and after the war and was elected State attorney general of South Carolina in 1876.

Early life

James Conner was born on September 1, 1829 in Charleston, South Carolina. After graduating from South Carolina College in 1849, he studied law and practiced law in Charleston. In 1856, he was appointed United States district attorney and served in this office until 1860. Conner authored The History of a Suit at Law (1857). Conner prosecuted the famous case against the slave ship Echo. He also prosecuted a member of William Walker's filibustering effort. Conner was a secessionist and supported the calling of a secessionist convention. Although he was a member of the convention, he did not vote on the ordinance of secession.

American Civil War

James Conner participated in the bombardment of Fort Sumter as captain of the Montgomery Guards, a South Carolina militia unit. At the beginning of the Civil War, Conner declined appointment as a district attorney for the Confederacy. Instead, he became a captain in the Hampton Legion and fought at the Battle of First Bull Run (First Manassas), taking temporary command of the legion after Colonel Wade Hampton was wounded. On July 21, 1861, he was appointed major of Hampton's Legion. After the Battle of Seven Pines during the Peninsula Campaign, he took command of the 22nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. During the Seven Days Battles, his leg was broken by a rifle ball during the Battle of Gaines Mill. After a two-month recovery period, he returned to lead his regiment at the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg.

He resigned his command on August 13, 1863 and became a member of the military court of the 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Returning to field command in 1864, Conner was promoted to brigadier general on June 1, 1864. Conner temporarily commanded the brigades of Brigadier Generals Samuel McGowan and James H. Lane consecutively during the opening months of the Siege of Petersburg. Then he led Major General John B, Kershaw's former brigade during the Shenandoah Valley Campaigns of 1864. Six days before the main battle, Conner was severely wounded during a skirmish at Cedar Creek (Fisher's Hill) and he lost a leg to amputation. This effectively ended his Confederate States Army field service, although his service record shows an assignment to General Joseph E. Johnston's command on February 25, 1865. There is no record of his parole.

Aftermath

After the Civil War, James Conner returned to his law practice in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1876, he was elected attorney general of South Carolina. In that office, Conner was able to obtain judicial confirmation of the election of former Confederate Major General Wade Hampton as governor of the state.

James Conner died in Richmond, Virginia on June 26, 1883. He is buried in Magnolia Cemetery (Charleston, South Carolina). The Letters of General James Conner, C.S.A. was published posthumously in 1933.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Conner_(general)

James Conner (September 1, 1829 – June 26, 1883), was a Confederate States Army brigadier-general during the American Civil War. He was a lawyer in South Carolina both before and after the war and was elected Attorney General of South Carolina in 1876.

Early life

James Conner was born on September 1, 1829, in Charleston, South Carolina. After graduating from that state's College in 1849, he studied law and practiced it in Charleston. In 1856, he was appointed United States district attorney and served in this office until 1860. Conner authored The History of a Suit at Law (1857). He prosecuted the famous case against the slave ship Echo. He also prosecuted a member of William Walker's filibustering effort. Conner was a secessionist and supported the calling of a secessionist convention. Although he was a member of the convention, he did not vote on the ordinance of secession.

American Civil War

James Conner participated in the bombardment of Fort Sumter as a captain of the Montgomery Guards, a South Carolina militia unit. At the beginning of the Civil War, he declined an appointment as a district attorney for the Confederacy. Instead, he became a captain in the Hampton Legion and fought at the Battle of First Bull Run (First Manassas), taking temporary command of the legion after Colonel Wade Hampton was wounded. On July 21, 1861, Conner was appointed major of Hampton's Legion. After the Battle of Seven Pines during the Peninsula Campaign, he took command of the 22nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. During the Seven Days Battles, his leg was broken by a rifle ball during the Battle of Gaines Mill. After a two-month recovery period, he returned to lead his regiment at the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg.

He resigned his command on August 13, 1863, and became a member of the military court of the 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Returning to field command in 1864, Conner was promoted to brigadier-general on June 1, 1864. He temporarily commanded the brigades of Brigadier Generals Samuel McGowan and James H. Lane consecutively during the opening months of the Siege of Petersburg. He then led Major-General John B, Kershaw's former brigade during the Shenandoah Valley Campaigns of 1864. Six days before the main battle, Conner was severely wounded during a skirmish at Cedar Creek (Fisher's Hill) and he lost a leg to amputation. This effectively ended his Confederate States Army field service, although his service record shows an assignment to General Joseph E. Johnston's command on February 25, 1865. There is no record of his parole.

Aftermath

After the Civil War, James Conner returned to his law practice in Charleston. A member and Past Master of Landmark Lodge No. 76, A.F.M., he served as Grand Master of Masons in South Carolina from 1868 to 1870. In 1876, he was elected attorney general of South Carolina. In that office, he was able to obtain judicial confirmation of the election of former Confederate Major-General Wade Hampton as governor of the state.

James Conner died in Richmond, Virginia, on June 26, 1883. He is buried in Magnolia Cemetery (Charleston, South Carolina). The Letters of General James Conner, C.S.A. was published posthumously in 1933.

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9257/james-conner

Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. Born in Charleston, he was one of the best officers that South Carolina furnished the Confederacy. He was a graduate of South Carolina College, and became a distinguished lawyer and a United States district attorney before the outbreak of the Civil War. Serving as Captain of the Montgomery Guards, a local militia company, he participated in the bombardment of Fort Sumter. He entered Confederate service in May 1861 keeping his captaincy while leading the Hampton Legion, a mixed command of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. At First Bull Run, when Colonel Wade Hampton fell wounded, he led the legion, earning promotion to Major, and fighting with the unit during the Peninsula Campaign through the Battle of Seven Pines. In June 1862 he became Colonel of the 22nd North Carolina, serving as its commander for 2 years. A disciplinarian, he never earned the volunteer soldiers' affection, but his courage and skill won their respect. At Gaines' Mill, during the Seven Days' Campaign, a rifle ball shattered his leg, disabling him for 2 months. Returning to his regiment, he led his men at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and received his promotion to Brigadier General on June 1, 1864. He temporarily commanded 2 brigades in succession, seeing action in the Petersburg Campaign, and in late summer 1864 was permanently assigned command of Major General Joseph B. Kershaw's old brigade of South Carolinians. On October 13, in a skirmish near Cedar Creek, he lost the leg that had been broken at a Gaines' Mill, but resumed the command of the brigade until the war's end. Returning to his native state after the war, he took up his law practice and entered politics, allying himself with his old commander, Hampton, and was elected state's attorney general. He later died in Richmond, Virginia.